Biodiversity of autotrophic euglenids based on the group specific DNA metabarcoding approach

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Microbiology
• Biodiversity

Background:

• Photoautotrophic euglenids are crucial primary producers in aquatic ecosystems.
• Understanding their distribution and diversity is vital for ecological assessments.
• Small water bodies represent unique habitats for microbial communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively analyze the distribution and biodiversity of photoautotrophic euglenids.
• To investigate species assemblages and their relationship with environmental factors.
• To identify indicator species for specific aquatic environments in Poland.

Main Methods:

• Field sampling across 16 diverse small water bodies in Poland over three years.
• Molecular analysis using a euglenid-specific barcode marker (V2 18S rDNA).
• Bioinformatic processing of sequence data for species identification.

Main Results:

• Identification of 152 photoautotrophic euglenid species across 13 genera.
• Species richness per pond ranged from 40 to 102 species.
• Euglena agilis and Euglenaria caudata were ubiquitous; Trachelomonas and Phacus genera were most diverse.
• Distinct species assemblages were observed, with a notable cluster in the Masuria region.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals significant photoautotrophic euglenid diversity in Polish small water bodies.
• The Masuria region harbors exceptional species richness, including rare taxa.
• Species coexistence patterns suggest structured ecological communities within these habitats.